Chapter 5: Meet the Parents - with a twist
Summary:
5. Making a good impression on your human mate's family is important...
Part 1
The idea of introducing his boyfriend to his parents was likely something that Raha didn't quite want to entertain for a while.
It was – however – a tad taken from his hands, with a call that came in probably at the moment he wasn't in much of control of all of his faculties… or, so he somewhat vaguely remembered rationalizing what happened with that whole conversation and conundrum.
To his defense, though, it's a tad hard to focus when your utterly mischievous lover decides to make your thought process more or less… faulty while you're on the phone with your mother, for fuck's sake!
Though he hardly was used to sharing his apartment, Raha was somewhat surprised by the fact that Senri turned out to be a downright perfect 'roommate,' seemingly always aware when – during his 'working' hours he needed space and quiet to think, and when he could use a distraction, struggling with whatever 'block' the text turned out to be. Not to mention the pros of having an extremely dedicated man who wished to fulfill your every need and had access to some veeery useful magic.
Fascinating as it was by itself, so far he could understand the way Senri's abilities worked, he came to very much appreciate his boyfriend's creation skills. When his shapeshifter learned how something was 'built,' he could apparently recreate it to perfection in a short time, making leaving their 'lair' hugely unnecessary. Or so Raha came to think of it because there was no denying the fact that his lover had a 'heavy' tendency to 'nest.' And once they overcame their initial issues, the redhead found that in the privacy of their 'bubble,' he didn't quite mind his boyfriend's habits and… insistent doting.
At first, he was a tad baffled when using a skillful mix of his inborn abilities, Senri 'adjusted' their bedroom, doing away with Raha's bed and replacing it with an extremely cozy mix of blankets and pillows… very reminiscent of his nest back in the lair of his Clan. But, mindful of the harsh lecture received from his twin about his… assholish behavior, Raha decided that he more than owed his lover some leniency toward his unusual nature. And, honestly, very quickly learned that the comfort of his boyfriend's nest was quite hard to beat.
That it came with an impossibly eager-to-please and unbearably sexy male… well, he quickly learned that nothing made him happier and more satisfied than pleasing his Senri – despite his initial misgivings about dating… being mated to a male shapeshifter.
It didn't, however, miss its tiny 'annoyances,' as once reassured in his claim on him, Senri swiftly grew to be an impossibly – sometimes irritatingly – doting lover, downright determined to spoil Raha rotten… and somewhat frustratingly insistent that the redhead was 'obliged' to take greater care of Senri's greatest treasure: himself, embarrassingly enough.
So, no matter how invested he would be in his writing at any given time, his lover was determined to keep track of his meals, sleep, and activities – funnily enough, using what Raha taught him about the internet to keep him occupied, to make a careful study of humans basic needs. And if the redhead failed to comply… the whining he was subject to was downright unbearable!
But since, more often than not, 'submitting' to his boyfriend's demands came with a reward of mind-blowing orgasms… Well, some sacrifices had to be made!
Throughout his teenage years and later life, Raha quite got used to the idea that he didn't really have a very potent sex drive. Dating one girl pretty much from the beginning of high school, when they set upon their separate careers, he didn't really mind that eventually, he came to see her every few weeks or even months. If he had to, he would… relieve the tension himself without much thought to that. He was comfortable in that setting with Mara because being with her didn't force him to think too deeply about his issues or entertain the notions of dating that his peers were always so seemingly consumed with.
It was just… easy, simple as that.
Being with Senri, however, was completely different from anything he could have ever predicted… and not exactly because it came with a revelation of the fact that he apparently wasn't exactly fully human, either!
The bane of his existence throughout his childhood - his real, crimson eyes he got used to hiding behind the colored lenses – apparently marked his bloodline as that of once lost Allagan Clan of shapeshifters, a fact that his lover and his family found incredibly… joyful thing. And as fascinating – and perhaps a tad scary – as was watching his pupils slowly but surely thin into vertical slits… HE believed that it also had to have something to do with the fact that near his 'mate' he tended to turn into a fucking nympho!
Senri, both by human and shapeshifter standards in his humanoid form – no matter male or female – was unbearably beautiful and sexy… but Raha was convinced that how his body reacted to his presence just… couldn't be normal. The downright melting heat his skin radiated and the unbearably delicious scent that filled the air around him – and swiftly penetrated the entire space of his apartment – alone were a sure way to send Raha's libido into an overdrive nearly constantly and the only way he could focus on his work, was – obviously – having his gorgeous boyfriend 'recompense' the distraction he was causing… which Senri always seemed to be more than eager to do.
And the fact that he could easily switch between male and female forms… definitely added spice to their everyday life, that's for sure!
At first, he had some – typically human, he guessed later – issues with that, worrying that Senri was somehow going against his nature to please him whenever he switched to his female form. For his head, it was a tad… difficult to wrap his mind around the idea that, in reality, his lover was very much a massive cat-like beast, but he did understand that in that true form of his, Senri was male. His boyfriend, however, laughed the notion off with his usual, cheery attitude stating that considering he more than enjoyed whichever form he chose to 'play' with him, he had absolutely no gender-related issues about his sexuality. He even joked that ever since they met, he was strictly 'Raha-sexual' and whichever way the redhead wanted to fuck was his pleasure no matter the form he took.
And considering that in both forms, he was impossibly gorgeous… well, didn't hurt either!
If he found that he did have a tad of… preference when they fucked – as despite the unbearable beauty of his lover's female form, it missed a certain… aspect Senri's male form had… that he found more than a bit mind-blowing whenever his boyfriend fucked him.
Miqo'te humanoid forms were… 'flawed' as Senri called it, carrying across some of their more animalistic features. Perhaps, he somewhat theorized, it was because Bastet – the goddess that apparently created their kind – was always presented as a female with a head of a lion or a cat in Egyptian' mythology. Miqo'te's forms were somewhat less animalistic, but whether female or male, they stood out between humans with their cat-like ears and long, furry tails. If – in the case of males – and what Raha found so embarrassingly satisfying, whenever his lover would peak inside him, his dick would 'knot' and by it put an impossibly stimulating pressure on his prostate… pretty much sending him into a bout of violent, multiple orgasms every single time…
And quickly made aware of Raha's… weakness for it, Senri was literally always eager to indulge him, sometimes even Shifting amid their… playtime to utterly blow him away!
That day, when his phone started to ring insistently where it was set, forgotten, next to the keyboard of his PC, he missed the annoying sound completely at first. Couldn't blame him, though, as at the time, he was quite… busy, in mind-numb awe and stupor, admiring his lover's female form as Senri, with a quiet but insistent mewls of enjoyment, rode his cock. Completely naked – as his shapeshifter tended almost to abhor clothing whenever not forced to appease human customs – but for the black collar studded with tiny blue crystals, he… well, she, at the moment, climbed the redhead's lap right after they finished prepared by her dinner and before he could even think of going back to his work. And he was sooo far from complaining…
One thing, across Senri's forms, remained unchanged, and either as he or she, he was an impossibly aggressive lover – and utterly shameless, to boot! – so Raha wasn't much surprised when devouring his mouth with an arousing mix of purrs and growls, Senri merely unzipped his pants and mounted his dick without a preamble, 'her' sounds only growing louder and more intense when he broke the kiss with a choked groan, arching under her and gasping desperately as she grinned 'his' grin, locked her hands on the backrest of the couch behind his head and proceeded to fuck herself on his flesh eagerly… utterly blowing his senses away in the process!
He could only hold on, curling his hands possessively around 'her' ass and drowning in the mounting pressure as she bounced on his cock, watching her face through his lashes, his brain on fire with a very obvious pleasure on the female version of his gorgeous lover's beauty. The rise and fall of her graceful body and the bounce of her full breasts… and yet, it was still his Senri, with glorious, mischievous sparks in her pale-blue cat-like eyes as she leaned in to whisper against his ear, electing a breathless moan from his chest as she pressed against him fully, grinding onto his dick in small, maddening rolls of her hips. Digging his fingers into her skin, he fought to catch her words over the mad thrum of his heartbeat, which Senri didn't help at all, effortlessly tearing his t-shirt in half so that their heated skins rubbed against each other.
"Your phone is ringing," he finally understood, if, by her giggle, he chuckled, guessing that it likely wasn't the first time she said it.
"Don't care," he breathed, lifting his right hand to wrap it around the back of her neck and keeping her body close as with the other hand, he lifted her hips slightly and rutted into her insistently, electing a lovely litany of breathless whines and whimpers. The way her breasts rubbed against his skin was almost as heady as the flutters of her inner muscles around his dick, and soon he lost himself in the rhythm, pulling her body down against his thrusts while Senri – with premeditation, for sure – mewled right into his ear. Pressed tight together and bathed in her heat and sweet mix of their scents, 'her' sounds became his whole universe, and the song of her pleasure was more than enough to make him tremble in the increasingly painful pressure to come.
Almost whimpering as that need mounted, he pulled his hand back from her neck, desperately pushing it between their bodies and pressing against her clit. Senri moaned deeply by his ear and shook, breathlessly mewl-purring his name before biting down on his shoulder. The feeling of the sharp fangs breaking his skin and the accompanied it sensation of muscle spasming around his cock was enough to send him tumbling over the edge with a choked whine, struggling to catch his breath while Senri sagged against his chest bonelessly, purring nearly deafeningly in bliss.
And the next part, as his senses reeled in pleasure, he loved no less than sex itself, when Senri set to express 'her' devotion in sweet, affectionate bites and kisses all over his shoulder and throat, lazily climbing toward his mouth. He met her halfway, in a deep, delicious kiss vibrating with her satisfied sounds, and gladly let himself drown in her sweet flavor, lazily running his hand over her back, then tenderly petting the base of her long, ink-black tail.
Then the insistent sound of the phone tore into their bubble. Though he tried to ignore it at first, the slight flinches of his lover's body reminded his dazed mind of the Miqo'te's extremely sensitive hearing, so he pulled back from the kiss, smiling ruefully as he delicately flicked his lover's lowered ear, earning an adorable pout on the prettily flushed face.
"Unpleasant, hm?" he breathed when Senri, with an offended glare toward his phone, shifted off his lap, pursing her lips petulantly when he chuckled and stood up, still embarrassingly blushing as he tucked in and closed his pants while heading toward his desk. "I keep forgetting to set it to vibration… but I'll do it now," he promised, picking up his phone… and frowning. "…oh."
"Who is it?" his lover asked, and by change of the depth in her voice… well, he didn't need to look back to know that she was no longer she, but he still stupidly flushed as he looked back at his lover: now in no less sexy, but male form.
…and still naked, making his eyes involuntarily trail down the expanse of the muscular body with no less appreciation than his awe at the grace of his female form.
Another shrill of his phone shook him up, and his crimson eyes darted toward the lit-up screen… he cringed, turning toward his desk and away from his boyfriend as he took a deep, steadying breath and leaning one hand against the surface of his desk, picked up.
"Hey," he said – in thought, almost praying that his lover's sensitive hearing wouldn't allow his beast to overhear the caller.
After the few last calls – the last one a tad before he became aware that his pet, Ink, wasn't exactly a normal cat – he half-expected that whatever his mother was calling him about, he didn't want his shapeshifter-lover to overhear…!
If he didn't yet become aware – as said pet – he didn't feel… in the mood to explain his mother's issues with his kind, for one, and with a certain representative of it… in particular.
Raha loved his parents dearly, but ever since over a year ago, the shapeshifters 'encroached' on their family, their very existence became a source… of his headaches whenever his mother decided to call him.
Ever since Damon, his older twin brother, hooked up with Ares, Senri's older brother… causing Raha's mother to pretty much flip out! And hearing her quite annoyed voice on the other side of the phone, he couldn't help but cringe, thinking that he didn't even consider informing his parents that he was in very much a similar situation as his twin at the moment….
"Finally!" his mom, Katie, sighed patiently, and he closed his… well, now very much feline eyes, involuntarily curling his shoulders in. "That took ages, Raha."
"Yeah, sorry… I was busy," he replied smoothly, still feeling like his face would burn away at the thought of what exactly he was busy with…! "Did you… ah, need something?"
"Yeah, baby, you need to come over this weekend," she stated with power. "Your brother is coming and bringing along that… unholy beast," she gasped, and knowing her, Raha could guess she made the sign of the cross doing that. He thinned his lips and exhaled slowly through his nose, trying not to flinch as he felt his very own 'unholy beast' choose that moment to press against his back, nipping on his neck as Senri set his big, hot hand over his abdomen, right above the edge of the waistband of his pants.
His and Damon's mother was usually a very sweet and kind woman. Still, she was also a very dedicated Catholic. Ever since his twin blew her mind, announcing his relationship with a shapeshifter… she quite freaked out, especially since when the Miqo'te made their presence known before he was even born, the church had the brilliant idea to restore it's decreasing following at the time by insisting that the shapeshifters are the devil's servants and meant to bring about the Apocalypse.
Now knowing a tad more about their origins, he figured that perhaps the church wasn't even that far off, considering his boyfriend's kind was created by an ancient Egyptian goddess… if that actually put them far, far ahead of Christianity. And though he somewhat understood that many humans found comfort in religion after the revelation of the fact that they weren't as alone as they thought, he couldn't help but think that it was somewhat… opportunistic to use Miqo'te as a sign serving of bringing people back to God.
Though they were both raised in that faith – he and Damon – it didn't take them long to quite… split, especially after they left home. Damon sooner, of course, as in their quite a small hometown, there were very few ways he could expand his knowledge, and all agreed that with his intelligence, it would be a waste to keep him back. They were barely fifteen when his brother left their home on a scholarship for a university he now gave lectures in, and quite honestly, at the time, Raha at first breathed a sigh of relief to have Damon's ever-present shadow gone. If it was his twin, not much later, that suggested that if he wished for a completely fresh start, he should join him and, with the addition of colored lenses, attend a high school far, far from their hometown and kids their age that took out their complexes and issues on the shy, quiet, 'freak-eyed' and 'dumber' twin.
It took some convincing of their parents, but the idea itself was too hard to resist for Raha, even if he was back to sharing space with his twin. But at least freed from attending the same school as him, eventually, they actually reconnected and grew closer than ever, even if he couldn't help but carry a sea of complexes about how much smarter Damon was than him.
And he was a tad… baffled to discover that freed from their parents 'leash' his twin very swiftly grew to be quite… promiscuous, quite stumping Raha with the frequency he apparently changed lovers… of both sexes, to boot. And the fact that Damon didn't hide his… contempt toward Mara wasn't a secret, either, despite assuring him that it wasn't the fact that Raha insisted on one steady 'girlfriend' but more so that he would settle for that girl in particular… but he, obviously, ignored his misgivings, comfortable in that setup, and quite… covering for his brother's 'hobbies' whenever their parents called or visited.
What his twin did in bed – with whomever he chose – he reasoned that was none of his business and had no doubt that Damon was smart enough to stay safe… in multiple ways.
But when soon after their shared thirtieth birthday party at their parents' house, his twin announced that due to his research, he would be sending an invitation to the nearest lair of the shapeshifters, it was enough already for their mother to flip out, swearing Damon to don't even think about that! But the devious glint in his brother's cyan eyes, Raha – who knew him best – wasn't very surprised to soon hear that his twin ignored her misgivings and did so anyway, and, honestly… he quite suspected that his twin had a tad more on his mind than just research with this whole idea. He never dared to ask… but his imagination eagerly supplied him with the notion that his twin would surely find the idea of a lover able to Shift most fascinating… and he doubted that shapeshifters really had anything to do with his usual areas of research, anyway!
Well, he didn't mind or care at the time, consumed by work on his very first book – then in his free time only, and while daily working in a mind-numbing boredom of an office – but when two months later his mother called him with tears, swearing his twin 'doomed' his eternal soul, apparently falling in love with the shapeshifter his invitation lured in… Well, he was mostly baffled. So far he knew, Damon never before claimed to be in love with any of his flings, and that was enough for Raha to call him and… well, ask what gives somewhat gingerly. He was promptly invited to visit and meet his brother's 'wonder' – which was no less surprising – and due to his curiosity, he went, quite quickly finding that he actually really liked Ares almost instantly. It was hard not to, with the shapeshifter's easy-going attitude and humor, honestly, and he was even more shocked to find that… they quite perfectly fit each other, Damon and Ares.
And seeing how enamored his normally quite cold and calculating twin was with his lover… well, wasn't unpleasant, either. He went back home quite convinced that no matter what they had been raised to believe or their mother's misgivings, he would be hard-pressed to find anything wrong with a man who made his brother so very obviously, deliriously happy… if receiving the very same day a phone call from him that apparently Ares's younger brother visited them a few hours later and would really, really like to meet him… made him balk instantly.
Not that he shared their mother's misgivings about the fact that Ares was not only a male but a shapeshifter as well – if he wasn't exactly sure which of those was the fact that offended her sensibilities and beliefs more – but the idea poked at his issues with being in Damon's shadow. Not to mention that other than obviously noticing that Ares was an impossibly beautiful man, he never found himself attracted to males, and in his head, he was convinced that though his relationship with Mara wasn't perfect, it well enough fulfilled his needs.
And, well… look at him now…
His face utterly on fire, he tightened his hand over the phone almost painfully, if he couldn't help but tilt his head slightly harder to the side in a silent invitation – especially when Senri utterly shamelessly unzipped his pants and pushed the material off his hips, curling his big hand possessively over his cock and electing a pang of renewed interest with its heat and slight, slow friction. Almost lazily pulling him back until Raha had to lean harder on the hand resting on the surface of the desk, he fought to keep his breathing even and calm and not whine in too-quickly mounting arousal when his lover meaningfully pushed his engorged dick between his buttocks, rubbing its tip against his opening in a distinctive invitation. And though he was definitely going to go to hell for that… he couldn't help himself but roll his hips slightly, almost dying to feel that almost too-hot, thick flesh press up into him. And Senri's quiet, mischievous chuckle against his neck was almost as heady as the way his hand slid over his cock and deeper between his legs, his finger nearly lazily rimming the tight ring of muscles between them and pressing into him slowly, making Raha's breath leave him in a loud exhale.
"Are you there, Raha?" his face blazed so much hotter at the sound of his mother's voice in his ear. Still, he couldn't focus as all his senses zeroed in on the mix of sensations: the press of Senri's hand over his already painfully aroused flesh, the fucking pleasant way he soon pumped his long finger into him while making sure to rhythmically and suggestively rub his dick against his ass, letting him feel its whole length, so eager to take him…
"I… a-am," he stammered slightly, his breath hitching involuntarily when another finger joined the first, adding a sinfully pleasurable sensation of being stretched. The almost painful anticipation filled his gut as he blindly set the phone between his ear and shoulder, freeing his hand to join the other on the desk, shivering involuntarily at the quiet, growled praise that vibrated on his neck right before his lover bit him harder. Soon losing his fucking mind as his mate's fingers crossed and pumped into him with quick, brutal thrusts, matched by the rolls of his massive, heated body against his back…
"So you'll be there, yes?" he heard through the thick fog, more than ready to beg… and nearly losing it while Senri purred into his skin, biting down harder and locking him in place as he pulled his hand back and curled it around his now downright leaking dick, then with a wonderfully rough movement he positioned himself against his ass and sent his senses reeling as the thick head of his cock breached him.
"…yesss…" he trailed off, biting down on his fingers to choke down a whimper, involuntarily tightening his muscles around the intruding flesh and feeling a downright maddening pang of arousal when Senri's bite vibrated with an almost pained whine on his skin.
"Wonderful, you'll help me talk some sense into your twin, yes?" sounded very, very far away. He blinked, trying to collect his scattered wits… but then his boyfriend curled his free hand around his hip, and pulled him back harder while snapping his hips, and the near-scalding heat speared his insides, hitting with an almost brutal force right onto the spot that had stars bloom under Raha's closed eyelids.
"…yessss!" he gasped, curling his hand into a fist on the desk's surface and completely missing the thud of the phone falling to the carpet. "P-please…" he nearly meowed, letting one hand shoot behind his head and drown in the unmatched fur-like silk of his lover's dark hair.
Senri purred praise, and his hand around the redhead's dick tightened into an invitation he used eagerly, with a choked groan thrusting into his grip, and whimpering breathlessly while feeling the maddening sensation of that deep, deep friction against his prostate. The heat of his lover's skin against his back and the cloud of his sweet scent that shoot down his throat with every breath. The heavy, silky weight of his mate's ink-black tail as it coiled around his abdomen into a possessive leash… All of those combined into a sinful bliss as he curled a shaky fist in his lover's hair – carefully avoiding hurting his sensitive, cat-like ear – pulling him deeper into his bite and, with a choked whine, rocked inside his embrace, fucking himself on his hard flesh.
Nearly split between the two distinctive sources of the hot friction, he soon mewled incoherently, almost a complaint as the pressure mounted too swiftly, leaving him dizzy as his movements grew sharp and erratic. His gut tight with upcoming orgasm, he nearly passed out while Senri tightened his grip around his cock, at the same time just slightly grinding into him on his increasingly desperate thrusts, and that was more than enough to send Raha over the edge with a choked groan of his lover's name, nearly numb with wave after wave of blinding bliss.
Shuddering violently and struggling to catch his breath, he didn't even really register when his mate pulled back from his bite with a raspy chuckle and coiled his muscular arms around his chest, then without pulling out of his ass, somewhat awkwardly walked him back to the couch, if behind it, then unceremoniously relaxed his arms and downright shoved the redhead forward. He gasped and blinked with surprise, which melted away quickly when his lover hooked his hand around his hip, set other by his shoulder on the leather of the couch, then, with a nearly pained groan, proceeded to fuck him with barely contained violence. And Raha could only take it, gasping and whimpering breathlessly as his mate groaned and gasped his name, pounding his dick into him almost brutally. Shifting against his ass slightly with every stroke until the redhead wailed at the hard thrust against the spot that sent a sizzle across his nerves, Senri then set to hit it with every increasingly desperate push and pull, sending him over the edge with a keening moan of his name.
Half-aware of what was coming as his lover's hand tightened on his hip almost painfully and another shot to wrap around his throat, pulling his head to the side, he still shook and trembled with aftershocks, breathlessly whimpering Senri's name in a hoarse chant when his lover growled and pressed tight against his back, biting him with an almost deafening, relieved groan as he snapped his hips and his cock filled Raha up to the hilt… then locked, knotting, and pushing his insides so impossibly, maddeningly full… The sensation of an almost too-hot seed pumping unto him as his lover's massive form shuddered and twitched all around him, the raspy mewl-purrs of his name against his ear as Senri nuzzled affectionately into his neck… All of that was nearly overshadowed by the impossibly overstimulating pressure inside him. If Senri's weight weren't holding him down against the couch's backrest, he would thrash, shuddering violently and moaning until his voice gave out as he came time after time, utterly too numb and spent by the time he sagged against the surface bonelessly.
After a while, drowning in his lover's heat and nearly dozing off to the sound of Senri's blissed-out purrs, he only managed an incoherent complaint when his mate set a tender kiss on his neck, then, with a sheepish chuckle, pulled back and picked him up, hugging Raha against his chest as he sagged in his arms and – entirely in too much bliss to complain – let his lover carry him to their nest without a word.
At the edge of consciousness and dream, after Senri set him down between the blankets and pillows and wrapped around his body into a tight, possessive vice, he barely registered his entirely too amused whisper against his ear:
"So… I'm going to meet your parents this weekend?"
"Mhmm," he hummed, dozing off and entirely unaware of what he was agreeing to.
"Marvelous! Good night, babe," his lover breathed, setting a sweet kiss on his cheek, and settled down behind him and an almost deafening round of happy purrs. Enjoying the heat of his embrace, Raha sighed blissfully and briefly petted his mate's arm wrapped around his chest.
"Night, Sen," he slurred slowly and nodded off with a ridiculously lovesick smile on his face….
…and only in the morning, with his feline lover still rumbling on the deep snore-purrs, when he crawled out of the nest, Raha was confused at first when after setting a coffee maker on, he noticed his phone lying down on the carpet by the desk. The blissful ignorance lasted in his sleep-fogged brain up until he picked it up and frowned at the sight of the message icon on the screen. And only when he opened it and saw the apparently cheerfully unaware message saying that they had to 'get disconnected' but his mom was very happy that he would be coming, and at what time he was expected… his mind, honestly, didn't react at first and he spend a good moment just staring at that message with a confused frown. Only when the coffee maker beeped behind him, Raha blinked, and his brain… caught on – connecting it with the half-heard whisper against his ear before he dozed off…
"Oh, fuck…!" he gasped, staring at the phone with terror.
"I love, love the smut, babe!"
"…" [*incoherent noises*]
"Aww… to your information, Dear Reader, he's blushing so hard I think his face very well matches the color of his eyes!"
"Just… shut up, Sen! Seriously… you're fucking lucky I love you like crazy, or I would never… God, someone kill me…."
"Heh, love you too, Raha, but you really don't need to be so embarrassed. I think it came out very good!"
"…like that's the point!"
"Okay, okay… let's split this chapter in two, hm? That will give you time to cool down before the funny part…?"
"I just… ugh, okay, I need a drink anyway. And some ice…."
"What was that…?"
"Nothing! Anything you want to add for this part…?"
"Nah, for now, I'm good. Maybe only: I hope you enjoyed the read as much as I enjoyed my Raha's adorable blushes throughout… Ouch!"
"That's what you get for teasing! Next time I'll aim for your balls, asshole."
"Aww… and here I thought you enjoy my 'manly' bits!"
"God… you're fucking impossible! Ugh, I'm out, byee!"
"Hehe, Bast, but he's so adorable! But, seriously, see you in the next part, and I'm off to soothe my cutie so he does actually write it… Bai!"
Part 2
"To do this story and event justice Sen requested, for you, Dear Readers, let me start this part with a word of disclaimer, so to say. Like I predicted, we found out that my twin is indeed following this story alongside you, and this morning I woke up to a LONG string so messages on my phone with some details – from his perspective – from that day. And after a short discussion about it with Senri and calling Damon to clear a few things up, and getting his permission to include his take at my leisure, we'll be starting this off two days before our meet-up. And since my twin – predictably, I know – dared me to keep it as impartial and objective as possible, you'll be getting HIS take… no matter my misgivings about the actual 'honesty' of what he decided to disclose with us. And, do remember what I already said about him being no less shameless than my shapeshifter, hm?"
"Bast, but you're really uncomfortable with this, hm?"
"Just… yeah, obviously! So, let's get it out of the way…"
When his phone vibrated outside of the comfort of their nest, Damon reached out for it with his free hand, keeping the other running lazily through the thick strands of the ink-black fur-like hair while Ares lowered against him without haste, trailing small, sharp bites down his chest and stomach. Unlocking the screen and quickly reading the message, soon had the redhead snicker, playfully flicking his mate's cat-like ear.
"First one off, Ares," he said and grinned when his lover hummed curiously but didn't even lift his head, instead curling his big hands around Damon's hips and dipping his rough-feeling tongue into his navel before heading even lower. He carelessly tossed the phone aside and fisted his fingers in the black hair, using his free hand to pet his mate's sensitive ear as he pointedly nudged Ares's head – and that deliciously hot mouth – toward his cock, moaning deeply when his lover growled softly and gave in, swallowing his flesh down without a hint of hesitation.
There was really something to be said about the superiority of a Miqo'te lover at giving a blowjob, he thought with a grin, somewhat almost wondering if his brother discovered that yet. Though he had no doubt that Senri likely would be as giving and considerate a lover as his brother, he wasn't sure what that looked like with his ridiculously prudish twin – or if Raha had actually anything to compare it to.
Considering what he knew of that bitch his twin used to date, Damon wouldn't be very surprised to learn Mara would be far too selfish in bed to even consider…
"…was he right?"
"…"
"Ah, that actually explains a lot."
"Just… keep quiet, okay? I'm already uncomfortable about this enough without… adding a discussion about THAT here."
"M'kay. Just saying, explains what happened later, right?"
"…I guess."
…satisfying him like this.
Soon more than distracted by his lover's ministrations and especially enjoying the vibration of Ares's purrs, his mind drifted back to the topic when his mate lifted once more with a smug smirk watching Damon's blissed-out our expression before he crawled up his body and took his mouth into a deep, hungry kiss. And tasting himself on his rough tongue, he couldn't help but snicker under his mouth, wrapping his arms and legs around the shapeshifter's muscular frame.
"What's so funny this time, love?" Ares chuckled, trailing bites along his jaw and down his throat as he shifted slightly above him, hooking his hand under the redhead's thigh and pulling it higher against his side as he took him with a smooth slide, electing a deep, satisfied moan from Damon's mouth.
"Just… Raha, as usual," he replied somewhat sheepishly but smiled when his lover chuckled, nuzzling against his throat affectionately while rocking into him in a smooth, lazy rhythm.
From the moment they met, he was quite relieved that Miqo'te didn't share the humans' prudish tendencies and his lover had no issues discussing anything that came to the redhead's mind at any given time, even during sex. Growing up as he and Raha did, by the time they left their constraining hometown and their parents' religious household, Damon was beyond fed up with people acting ridiculous whenever he asked the 'uncomfortable' questions. Later, he did perhaps… let loose a tad too much – so drunk on the new freedom to learn whatever his mind found interesting – but years later, he hardly regretted that.
Especially when the growing boredom with human lovers led him toward the idea of finding someone more… flexible.
He, obviously, didn't expect how that was going to turn out: sending that letter to the nearest known lair of shapeshifters. Had no inclination to suspect that Ares accepted it only because his leftover scent on the paper intrigued his sensitive nose. And, honestly, was more than a tad blown away not only by his 'guest's' beauty but more so by the fact that… Ares was perfect. For him, anyway! He still laughed occasionally at the fact that mere minutes after the impossibly beautiful male arrived at his office in the university he lectured at, Damon ended up bent over his desk and fucked into oblivion.
And to say he was instantly hooked… was an understatement! Not only by the mind-shattering, multiple orgasms their species provided with such ease, but more so by the fact that even after sating his curiosity in that area, Ares kept his mind engaged like nothing else ever could – with his humor and sensitivity, not to mention the way he was instantly determined to claim and pamper him beyond anything he ever experienced before.
If – by now – he did have a growing suspicion that the effect they had on each other wasn't exactly as 'accidental' as in the case of any other couple.
Call it pheromones or will of the goddess – matters not – but there was definitely something up with his – and Raha's – bloodline.
And Damon – a scholar at heart – couldn't help but crave to figure it out!
Hence his latest… experiment and its intended goal: introducing two extremely powerful shapeshifters to their parents and observing their reaction. Heartless as someone might have been inclined to call it – he coldly theorized that obviously one of their parents had to be even more 'Allagan' genes than them, so there's bound to be some effect elected. And knowing his – their – mother and her misgivings about the situation, he didn't doubt that the moment he announced his wish to visit them – with his lover in tow, claiming he wanted to 'properly' introduce him – she would instantly think to involve Raha in it as well.
She – as one of the very, very few – realized how much he cared about his twin throughout their childhood, more than once finding him weeping embarrassingly in hatred toward… everything and everyone that appeared determined to separate them.
At his stupid intelligence, probably the most. Because it put a wedge between them, he hated – and didn't even allow him to find a way to protect his brother from the morons around them, determined to see him as lesser when he was anything but…
"…do you need a moment, babe?"
"Eh… no, I'm fine. It's just… you know, it's not easy to realize… to find out that he was struggling with this no less than I did, if in a different way, that's all. But I actually feel… better after clearing it up, as selfish as it may sound… and all."
"I don't think it's selfish at all, Raha. You were both hurting, and to know he cares about you so much – as obvious as it was for me – with your upbringing and all, makes sense that you feel relieved to know that he did notice – and shared – your issues with how people around you two behaved."
"…I guess."
"So… your scheme is about to take off, love?" Ares whispered against his ear, and Damon gasped, then moaned shamelessly, rocking along to his lover's rhythm as his mate sped up, digging his fingers into his thigh and nipping on his skin. Fighting to focus on something else than the wonderful, deep friction of his lover's cock inside him and another, as Ares's heated skin rubbed pleasurably over his dick stuck between their bodies, he laughed breathlessly, hooking his hands around his lover's shoulder blades for purchase. He crossed his ankles above the base of his mate's ink-black tail, tightening the grip of his thighs around him possessively, and was instantly rewarded with near-deafening, rumbling purrs of praise as Ares increased the rhythm, making him lose the trail of his thoughts at the impossibly swiftly building pressure. "…hm?"
"…w-what…?" he frowned, trying to collect his scattered wits and remembered what they were talking about – and choked on a whimper when Ares snickered at his expanse, so wonderfully smug, and bit him. Losing it at the sensation, Damon clung to his lover's massive form desperately, gasping and groaning his name as Ares, with premeditation, used all his… tricks to make him fall apart… and only much, much later – impossibly sated and relaxed – Damon somewhat almost blushed, but gladly wrapped his arms around his loudly purring lover, more than enjoying his weight and heat. His obvious care and affection, as Ares spread delicate, loving kisses over his throat and shoulder in the warmth of the afterglow smoothing his hand lazily over Damon's thigh, now loosely wrapped around the shapeshifter's hip.
This was what led Damon to send Senri toward his brother, he thought lazily, tilting his head to enjoy his lover's affectionate ministrations fully. Seeing the young shapeshifter's similarities to his older brother and his so very obvious interest after 'sniffing' Raha out, he couldn't help himself! If anyone deserved this sort of care and love as he found himself the center of in Ares's embrace, he had no doubt that after all he went through – because of him and others – his twin more than could use the same treatment. That it eventually led to removing the insufferable Mara from the picture… well, was definitely a bonus!
He hated her – with passion – for more reasons than he ever dared to disclose to his twin. Not while Raha so stubbornly refused to dump her… in a way, he was too scared to make her another reason why his brother would resent him. Not only because she never showed care his twin deserved or had a tendency to sleep around behind his back, but mostly because more than a few times she came onto him as well – when he and Raha still lived together after leaving their hometown – even brazen enough to suggest that she wouldn't mind a threesome with them both…
"…do you still have her number, babe?"
"Just… let it go, Sen. She's long out of the picture, so there's no reason to even think about her."
"…I just have a few choice words for her, that's all."
"Yeah, sure… with your gift added, no doubt. Forget it, Sen, and no, I don't have it anymore, anyway. I thought we can stay friends – considering how long we were together – but after learning this… well, I deleted it. …where are you going, silly cat?"
"Nothing to worry about, love, just remembered I was supposed to call Hades, that's all. I'll do it in the bedroom so I don't disturb you, okay? Be right back."
"…okay?"
After experiencing the love and care he found with Ares, and with Senri's unbidden enthusiasm, Damon was eager to share that wonder – in a way – with his twin… and grew insanely irritated by Raha's stubborn refusal even to give the shapeshifter a chance. He, obviously, didn't know what exactly went down after Senri left his apartment – heading back to their lair – but getting a message from him with a question about his brother's address – and a wish to keep it quiet from Ares, even risking his lover's ire was worth the shot in his opinion. A few months later, actually finding out… well, he honestly had a good laugh at the situation, and after – skillfully – smoothing his lover's temper and misgivings with his brother's stunt, gleefully set to reunite his twin with his 'pet.'
And now, when the situation between them looked to take a proper turn – after he had to, with some very real anger… teach his twin about his behavior around his lover – he was ready to give the next step of his… research a go.
Learning that they were at least in part… not exactly human quite fascinated him, if he was a tad appalled that even his lover – as known as Ares was in his kind's myths and lore – didn't really know that much about that mysterious, lost Clan. Important – for him and his twin, at least – details were scarce, and he was determined to find out more… one way or another.
Hence, despite knowing their mother's beliefs and misgivings about his lover, he somewhat organized the trap to see if his… so far concluded theories were at least on the right track.
The visit to the Allagan lair Ares took him for was a real disappointment as, despite their hopes, the entrance remained firmly shut – barring them from finding out if it contained any relevant information about what they should expect once they're done changing. But some interesting rites decorating the massive, gold-encrusted gate gave him some ideas.
After carefully studying the Egyptian myths about Bastet in particular and comparing them to what he was learning from Ares about his species and their stories, he came up with a conclusion he was quite certain that his twin wouldn't find as… interesting as he did. Or Raha would, but Damon could bet that his prudish brother wouldn't be inclined to admit that!
"…asshole."
"Did you say something, babe?"
"Ah, you're back… Nope, just thinking out loud. Called Hades?"
"Yeah, yeah… gonna leave for a few hours, okay? He has… a task for me, for the Clan, but it shouldn't take long. I'll read this when I'm back, so don't post it yet, okay?"
"Mhmm… See you, Sen. Love you."
"Love you too, babe. Be back in a bit."
The dual aspect of how the goddess was depicted was interesting in itself, as Bastet was presented as both the warrior and protector of Ra, as well as the patron of love, pleasure, and fertility. And Damon thought he could clearly see the reflection of that 'harder' aspect in her cat-like beasts. Protective as Ares was by nature – which he didn't doubt most of his kin shared in – by being a hybrid, he quite well represented both Clans' tendencies and calling him a warrior wouldn't be far off either, including his natural streak toward the leadership. But what their feud was proof of – what Ares confirmed easily – their kind tended to be very aggressive and territorial. Insanely possessive, too.
And the more he learned about them, the more Damon was inclined to think that it was the Allagan Clan that was more dedicated toward their goddess's softer aspect. Natural rulers and scholars, as they were depicted in Ares's stories, he thought that his lover somewhat innocently missed the one aspect that piqued his interest, and as his body changed… it turned his thoughts toward his ideas.
He was well behind Raha in that, obviously, as his eyes barely turned from cyan to crimson recently – as the process seemed irritatingly slow – but far more attuned to his body and its usual needs, he thought that he was quite better informed than he expected his twin to be. As much as Raha somewhat funnily used to accuse him of promiscuity, he considered his sex drive quite healthy if his partners lost his interest swiftly, leading Damon to move on without a thought.
However, with Ares… it was very, very different – and after they Soul-Bonded, his needs… far exceeded what they previously were, to boot! Originally he put it toward the… new, added bliss of sharing each other's pleasure during their matings, but as time passed and the color of his eyes tinted red… his need for his mate only grew. He enjoyed sex as much as any other man did, obviously. He was madly in love with his shapeshifter, no doubt, but adding that to those… intriguing rites, he was inclined to conclude that his only increasing sex drive was somewhat connected with his bloodline.
That, in a way, Allagans were not only meant to rule and make their kind connect with their human neighbors but were also meant to… work as a lure and reward for their more aggressive kindred. After confronting that idea with Ares, his lover with ease admitted that around him, he felt impossibly soothed, and to meet his needs… he would gladly fulfill Damon's every wish. Asked, he said that he wouldn't be surprised to hear that there might be some… more potent pheromones at play, too – somewhat sheepishly admitting that his youngest brother always seemed to have the sharpest sense of smell from their Clan, even among his brothers. And the way he seemed so instantly intoxicated when faced with Raha's scent… Well, gave Damon ideas when he put it all together.
Ares and Senri – in his private conclusion – were not only hybrids but, as he liked to call them: Alphas of their kind. Born with a natural skill to lead and compel the others of their species, he wasn't surprised to learn that in the stories, it was such individuals that were almost exclusively back in the day meant to compete for an Allagan mate and their goddess's favor.
As Ares would tell it, Bastet was known to reside and hold court in the lair of her favored children, inviting only those of the greatest skill, strength, and intelligence to attend her presence – and more often than not, it meant for those chosen a right to become mated to one of the softer, more intellectually inclined shapeshifters, who championed unity among their kind.
If one thought of it in human, more opportunistic terms, as he somewhat tended to do, Bast used her 'favorites' to keep the rest of her chosen children in line. And to do so effectively, she not only installed her Allag Clan in power and gave them the ability to 'permanently' snatch the attention and favor of her chosen for them mate – but did so by way of her famed softer aspect: by love and pleasure, binding the Seekers and Keepers to be too busy competing for her favor – and the reward of 'perfect' match, but were they allowed to do what they were as well created to do… lure in humans into that coexistence not by force or fear, but unmatched pleasures of her design.
To be completely and utterly crude: Allag were Bast's whores. And he had a little illusion that a goddess worshipped in times of slavery wouldn't have much of a challenge using them as such. And to ensure their compliance in the designed for them role, he could imagine that the goddess of pleasure would have a great idea how to do so: giving them a sex drive to be matched only by her designed 'mates.' The more… virile and aggressive specimen she chose, Damon was inclined to think that she made Allag with the inborn, unconscious drive to match them – and at the same time keep them in the goddess's 'soft' leash: too drunk on provided pleasure to even think of anything as harrowing as rebelling against someone so 'loving.'
And he did somewhat coldly wonder if those who slew the Allagan Clan figured it out – and that was the 'bondage' the slaughter was meant to break: knowing their Alphas' would never lead them to freedom when they competed for the right to carry the leash. He didn't agree with that – and obviously thought it a senseless waste, not to mention the strife it inevitably leads to – but to his cool intellect, it made the most sense.
What Pharaohs once achieved with a whip and fear, Bast did better with the promise of love and pleasure alone. And if her goal was to secure her children in a world that was growing overpopulated with volatile humans, he couldn't imagine a better pick for strategy.
…if someone, somewhere, didn't screw it up, deciding to murder the whole Allagan Clan in the name of misunderstood freedom. Or, perhaps, as they say: nothing burns quite as much as rejection, and who knows…? Maybe it was a deed inspired by a 'lover' scorned? A Shifter that was deemed unworthy of their goddess 'favor' and used his inborn ability to 'convince' others to his ideas…? Something like: if I can't have it, none else either…? He could only speculate, obviously, unless the goddess herself would decide to break her silence… but, somehow, he found that explanation to have quite good grounds.
But to confront his ideas with reality, he came up with the idea of using their – his and Raha's – parents as the test subjects for his theory. The presence of two wonderfully powerful hybrids – and if he was right, their pheromones – was bound to elect some reaction. He, honestly, had no idea which of his parents carried the Allagan genes, both being quite short and fragile-looking, but he did quite… meanly bet Ares that it would be their mother… Perhaps because he found some humor in the notion, considering her misgivings about shapeshifters in general.
"So… Raha would be there, love?" his lover whispered against his ear, and Damon grinned, rubbing his mate's sensitive ear and enjoying the lovely, deep purrs it elected.
"Mhmm, and considering how freaked out that message was, I believe he would be bringing Senri along," he replied with a chuckle.
"Lovely… Think I should warn him that your mother is allergic to our fur...?" Ares asked, lifting above him and wiggling his dark eyebrows playfully as his sky-blue eyes shone with humor.
"And ruin half the fun?" he pouted, wrapping his hands around his mate's almost too-beautiful face. "I think not, love."
"As you command, my heart," his lover purred, and they exchanged mischievous grins before gladly once more drowning in each other's flavor.
Raha was somewhat relieved when his twin suggested that he and his boyfriend would pick them up on the way to their hometown, as he was so nervous that driving would be a tad of a challenge. After Senri refused even to entertain the idea of passing on… 'making a good impression' on his parents-in-law, he was so busy freaking out the last few days… he couldn't even write, constantly finding himself instead consumed by the visions of upcoming doom and gloom…
And honestly, he was most worried about his lover's disappointment when Senri was bound to discover that no matter his sweet and sensitive personality, he was at a lost position at the start of his intended goal. So far, he knew, his beast never yet had to face being quite literally discriminated against for what he – literally – was, and he could only pray that his mother would have… enough heart not to be too harsh about letting his boyfriend know what she thought and believed about his kind.
He loved her very much, but after the phone calls he was sentenced to after Damon hooked up with Ares, he more than anyone – probably – knew the scale of her prejudice toward Miqo'te and now was more than inclined to swear at the 'genius' who thought it was a good idea to use shapeshifters as the scapegoats for the beliefs… especially knowing that his mate never before had a chance to be in this sort of situation – and not to mention missed an experience with parents in general.
He hoped… to be able to catch hold of their mother as soon as they arrived and pointedly warn her against harming his lover's sensitive heart, and by the time his brother's car crossed the border of their hometown, he was almost vibrating with nerves!
And, perhaps, the biggest reason for it was that he would want their parents to like Senri. He loved them, and he loved his boyfriend… and it would be nice if they got along, but at the moment, he was only busy hoping that his mother's allergy didn't extend to feline shapeshifters! He was half-tempted to ask Damon if he ever had the idea to compare the Miqo'te fur to the normal felines. Still, considering the presence of Ares and his easy-going smile when he and Senri got into the seats behind them, he figured that if that was the case… Ares probably wouldn't look that relaxed about the whole thing.
He knew Damon's humor tended to lean toward deviousness, but knowing how much he loved his lover, he doubted his twin would see it as in good taste not to warn the man about all the aspects of the upcoming… introduction.
Raha… chickened out – sort of – replying to his mother's message and warning her that he would be bringing 'someone' along… but he didn't dare to say who exactly. In his mind, he wanted to do it sort of like… ripping off the band-aid, knowing that no matter what, it was bound to go terribly. Shamefully, for a moment, he even entertained the thought of asking Senri to… soften the blow by turning female but swiftly discarded the idea and refused even to mention it to his lover.
If they couldn't accept him as he was… there was no point in risking hurting his lover by giving him the idea that he was still… ashamed of his gender. God knows that after the first two months of their… dating, he was still cringing at his behavior and stupid ideas. And he was still thankful to the Elders of his lover's Clan for their decision to keep their youth well away from human culture and their tizzy about genders and sexes and what else.
Staring outside the window at the too-familiar buildings the car passed, he involuntarily tightened his fingers around Senri's, pulling his boyfriend's hand in his lap. Unused as he was to travel 'the human way,' his lover was impossibly – and adorably – excited at first, but sometime during the way, the car's motion eventually lulled him to sleep. Now he was snore-purring quietly, and only his tail, wrapped around Raha's waist securely, flicked occasionally. It started to rain soon after, and watching the droplets slide along the windows, if not for his nervousness, he would be more than inclined to lean into his lover's heat and doze off, with his free hand stifling his occasional yawns.
"Almost there," said Damon from behind the wheel, and he blinked, biting his lower lip with uncertainty as he recognized the street the car turned into as the one they grew up on. "You might want to wake up Senri, Raha."
"Mhmm," he sighed softly and turned slightly, curling his free hand around his boyfriend's cheek and turning his face toward him. Smiling involuntarily at the quiet, petulant grumble, he couldn't help himself but lift slightly in his seat and, despite the seatbelt pulling at him, brush his lips against the corner of his lover's pretty mouth. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead," he said quietly and barely noticed how his hand slipped higher, near-unconsciously pushing his finger into the unmatched silk of his boyfriend's dark hair and rhythmically petting his sensitive ear.
And he really should mind how Senri reacted just like any other time Raha would attempt to wake him up: purring loudly and happily as his mouth chased his when he flushed and tried to back away. No such luck, as Senri's big hand wrapped around his throat, and his mate – seemingly not even fully awake yet – claimed his mouth with his very typical aggression, swiftly drugging his senses with his addictive flavor. Outside of his will, his hand fisted in his Senri's hair, pulling him closer as everything but his taste lost meaning, and all his senses zeroed in on the heated dance of their tongues, not even feeling when the motion of the car stopped.
"Behave, brother!" he heard booming laughter fill the space of the car, and when Senri flinched harshly and pulled back, he uttered an utterly embarrassing whine, for a brief moment refusing to let go of his lover's hair… until his twin's snicker joined in, shaking him out of the stupor and he pulled his hand back quickly, flushing up to his hairline instantly. "Cute," Ares sniggered, and it was accompanied by the sound of his seatbelt snapping open before he turned sideways in his seat, his sky-blue eyes shining with amusement. "But all things considered… better contain PDA to a minimum, hm?"
"I was… ah, shut up," Senri snapped back, but when Raha tossed him a surprised look from under his lashes, feeling the way his boyfriend's fingers tightened around his… at some level, he wasn't surprised – and perhaps almost glad – that apparently not only he felt quite… well, abuzz, let's say. He wasn't sure if it were nerves or…
"Mmm, let me ask you a strange question…?" his twin said in a neutral tone, not looking at them as he opened his seatbelt if Raha saw his hand drift to wrap around Ares's thigh, squeezing briefly. Instantly suspicious, he narrowed his eyes at the back of his brother's seat. "…did you by any chance… Well, let me be plain, didn't yet have sex today?"
"Like that's any of your business!" he snapped, feeling like his face would completely burn away. There was just NO WAY that he was discussing his sex life with his perverted brother!
"I see…" Damon chuckled and turned slightly to send him a mysterious wink, and for whatever reason, Ares snickered, pushing the door open and stepping out into the rain without missing a beat. "…well, thank you, brother, this will be more fun than expected!"
"Huh?" he scowled, letting go of his lover's hand – which was surprisingly difficult – when Senri set to follow his brother's example. "What are you getting at now, Damon?"
"I think… you're going to find out soon enough," his twin grinned at him cheekily before opening his door and getting out of the car. Raha swore, then quickly opened his seatbelt and followed, despite the rain glaring daggers at his brother over the open door… before swallowing thickly as his gaze ran toward the façade of the home they stopped in front of.
Swiftly forgetting his twin's remark, he snapped the car door shut, then shielding his eyes, followed Damon – who seemed impossibly relaxed for the circumstances – up to the terrace in front of the building, only slightly flinching when under the roof above it, Senri pointedly flicked his tail, getting the water out of his fur, then wrapped his arm around Raha's shoulders and curiously looked over the front of the house.
"This is where you grew up?" he asked, leaning in from his impressive height to whisper against his ear while Damon knocked at the door loudly, then pointedly took hold of his lover's hand.
"Mhmm," he hummed with confusion, involuntarily turning his head and taking a deep breath… because somewhat – perhaps because of rain – his lover's scent seemed so… much more pronounced, in a breath filling his head up to the brim.
"It looks like a nice nest," his boyfriend announced, and his brother snorted quietly, tossing him a fond look over his shoulder. Raha felt his gaze, but he was far too busy wondering a tad dazedly what exactly made Senri's scent so… unbearably delicious, involuntarily turning slightly and burying his nose against his boyfriend's shoulder. All his nervousness seemed so far, far away as that became a question that had to be answered. Obviously – as helpful as always – Senri turned slightly, curling in around him before he lowered his head to whisper against his ear, letting him bury his nose against his throat to take a deeper whiff of his lovely scent. "Babe… as much as I would love nothing more… I don't think it's the best place."
"Hmm?" he hummed, blinking slowly as he fought to collect his scattered wits and gather his meaning.
"I can feel how… horny you are, my cute mate," his lover purred in a low, soothing sound, and because it was so lovely… and he was so, so warm… and smelled so sweet and delicious… Raha unconsciously lifted his hand, wrapping it around his lover's neck, holding him down as he took another deep, hungry whiff of his apple-like scent, unaware of the quiet sound that slipped his mouth. "Bast…"
"Interesting," he heard through the fog that clouded his head before he was very rudely – and unceremoniously – tugged away from his lover's side, and before he could utter a sound of protest, Damon snickered and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, keeping his by his sides as he turned them toward the door – keeping Raha in front of him. Blinking rapidly, he could only stare in a numb stupor when almost immediately, the door swung open, and their father – Sol Mallory – grinned at them broadly. "Hey, dad, long time no see," Damon said with unfit humor against his ear, then shoved Raha forward – right into their father's hug.
"Come in, come in…" squeezing the life out of him, their father trailed off, then hummed with confusion. "What gives…? Am I seeing double?"
Brutally reminded of the circumstances, Raha shook up, then pushed away from their dad and somewhat nervously looked behind him.
"Where's mom?" he asked hesitantly, not seeing her nearby.
"In the kitchen," their father replied, pointing behind him and not waiting for the introductions – but swearing to make up for it later to his boyfriend – he tossed his twin a pleading look, then darted around their dad inside the house, heading toward the kitchen with determination. Their dad, he knew he didn't have to worry about, knowing his polite and jovial attitude… and later, he would find a moment to grill his brother for answers… but right now, he needed to take care of the biggest danger to his lover's feelings…!
Passing the dining room with a big table set up with plates and dishes for six, he swallowed thickly as he neared the arch leading into the kitchen… but smiled involuntarily at the sight of their mother, Katie, busy by one of the counters and humming under her nose a familiar melody. While their father was a blond – greying now – with cyan eyes Damon inherited, their mother was the one they got their red hair from. And he had more than a bit of her temperament – if she rarely showed her fiery tendencies. Which was the reason for his worries, and reminded of that, he cleared his throat loudly, if his smile dimmed when she visibly startled and turned around, pressing her hand over her heart.
"God, Raha, you scared me," she giggled at herself, then grinned and marched across the room, opening her arms widely. "It's been too long, baby, you look so… Achoo!" she stopped a mere step from him with a loud sneeze.
He felt all the blood drain from his face, realizing instantly… yes, his mother's allergy didn't care about the kind of felines it was faced with. When she raised her slightly teary green eyes toward him, he almost balked, thinking that aware of it or not… he had to be covered in Senri's fur…! God his witness, he started to wear mostly black because his lover shed so much... on everything, and especially on him…!
"My… I guess that's from that cat of yours, hm?" she sighed, wiping her eyes as she backed away a few steps.
"My…?" he startled, paling even more, until he remembered that he did tell her over the phone that he decided to keep 'Ink,' and her dismal humor about it, saying that then he should remember to clean up good before visiting….
…holy fuck, there's just no way this will be easy, is it…?
"Umm… in a way," he took a deep, steadying breath, then exhaled loudly. "Mom, there's something you need to know before…"
"Look, Katie, always told you that our boys, deep down, have the same taste," he heard behind him and swore under his nose, earning his mother's offended look before she looked behind him and paled impossibly. Her eyes grew impossibly huge as her hand wrapped around the small cross hanging from her necklace. "They date boys that look even more like twins than they do…!"
And he darted forward when her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and his mother promptly passed out. Supporting her limp form, he turned a deadpan stare toward their father, in thought thanking all the possible gods that he at least had the sense to wear lenses – as Damon did as well – to keep the shocking news to a minimum. If, right now, his brother had the temerity to roll his eyes with annoyance as he headed toward him.
"Sooo dramatic," he sighed, then tapped his hand against Raha's cheek earning his glare. "I'll get her settled on the couch while dad looks for salts… In the meantime, you may want to show your boyfriend around, hm?" he hummed, pointedly taking their mother from his arms and picking her up. "I'm sure Senri would especially like to see our old bedroom and all…" he added far too innocently over his shoulder, heading toward the living room.
Glaring after him, he almost missed the way his lover got out of the way of his twin, then somewhat hesitantly neared him with a worried expression on his almost too-beautiful face while their dad and Ares followed Damon.
"Is your mom… alright?" his boyfriend asked, looking after them with a confused frown.
"She's… ah, it's hard to explain, but…" he trailed off when his lover stopped beside him, involuntarily taking a deep breath of his… somehow even sweeter scent, and almost moaned at how delicious it was. "She's… a-allergic to cats, Sen," he finally choked out, involuntarily dropping his head against his chest.
"Allergic to…?" the feeling of his big, hot hand as it wrapped around his neck had him move closer outside of his will – almost – despite his flaming face downright bathing his Senri's radiating heat. His clothes felt a tad unpleasantly wet and cold from the rain, but like always, his boyfriend felt… toasty and so, so deliciously sweet, letting him get drugged on his scent… "I think… Damon had the right of it, babe," his boyfriend unceremoniously smoothed his hand over his back, curling it possessively over Raha's ass and pulling him tight against his body. And for once, he wasn't inclined to fluster and act offended, instead uttering an impossibly aroused moan. "Lead the way, my cute mate," he purred, kneading his flesh meaningfully.
"Huh…?" he hummed, rubbing his overheated cheek against his wide chest as he wrapped his arms around his lover's waist, more than enjoying the press of his hard body on certain, veeery interested in it part of his anatomy.
"Babe… hate to break it to you, but you're in heat," Senri almost… deadpanned, as it was obvious, and Raha blinked slowly with confusion, trying to wrap his head around the statement.
"I can't be… I'm male," he stammered, looking up with offense and with a far overheated face up at his boyfriend's sheepish smile.
"And I keep repeating, love, the human ideas about the shapeshifters are a tad… stupid," he chuckled, then lowered his head to whisper against his ear. "With us, gender doesn't matter when we can change it at will, mate, and what's more… I remembered what Hades once told me when Damon pulled you away from me… and I felt like ripping his head off for that, despite the fact that I do quite like your brother, and he is my brother's mate… But you see, Raha, when I did hit my first heat, wishing to literally die when it got bad, my mean brother laughed at me and said that I should be happy then that I'm not a mated Allag because apparently, they tended to go into heat… whenever their mates wouldn't be… considerate of their needs."
"Huh?" he replied in a daze, more busy appreciating his scent than listening to that nonsense… because that couldn't be…?
"I think Damon realized when he asked if we had sex today, babe… so, chop, chop…" he snickered, and then before Raha knew what happened, he picked him up and unceremoniously tossed him over his shoulder, then dared to swat his ass despite his furious squeak in protest. "My bad that we slept in… so point the way, and I'll make up for it, love… Can't have Ares bragging that he's better than me at meeting his mate's needs, yes?" he stated as if that was the issue and not the way Raha slapped his hand against his back, thrashing to be put down. "Now, now, don't be difficult, Raha!" he snickered, then headed toward the other door that his brother went through.
"Put me down, you silly cat!" he hissed through his teeth, pounding his hand against his boyfriend's back uselessly, not watching where Senri was going, then gasped as he was far too suddenly set down on his feet, then promptly shoved against the wall, blinking rapidly as he tried to orient himself.
Senri didn't go far, apparently, merely shoving him against the wall next to the archway between the kitchen and the dining room, on the side of the kitchen, then despite Raha's offended glare, his boyfriend shook his head and sighed a tad… patiently, then without missing a beat, fell to his knees in front of him.
"Fine, have it your way," he chided playfully, then grinned wolfishly at his downright owlish look when Senri, without a hint of shame, tugged the redhead's pants down to his knees, then took a deep, hungry breath after diving in despite his embarrassed squeak and burying his nose against his dick. "Bast… but you smell like sin incarnate," he purred, wrapping his hands around Raha's hips and effortlessly holding him down against the wall.
His face utterly on fire, he shoved his hands against his lover's shoulders… weakly, swallowing thickly as he stared down at his lover's dark-furred ears and the… temptation to return the remark was palpable as his sweet scent seemed to swell impossibly, maddeningly, filling his head up to the brim.
"What do you t-think you're do…" he choked, and his hand shot up to wrap over his mouth as Senri, being the utterly shameless beast he was, licked his dick from its base to its tip… and God, but his tongue felt like sandpaper, but somehow it was so… so… His trail of thought fizzled out when his mate, with a satisfied purr, dove in, swallowing his cock effortlessly down to the hilt. Raha clamped his hand over his mouth brutally to stifle the beyond embarrassing whine, shakily fisting his other hand in his lover's hair, swearing he would pull him off and… and…
He lost it when his mate's throat and mouth vibrated around his flesh, mewling under his palm incoherently as his back shot ramrod stiff at the sensation, downright tingling with sparks that settled at the base of his spine. The memory of his heady, heady dreams, when he thought he was dreaming of Ares, returned with a blast, and he choked on a groan, tightening his hand in Senri's hair painfully, and when his lover pulled back slightly – still purring – he couldn't help but follow that mad heat and vibration, rolling his hips and whimpering breathlessly at the sensation.
Back then – half-awake – he really didn't properly appreciate his lover's skilled mouth, and since then, he didn't even think… but, God, so good…
He came embarrassingly swiftly, gasping as he bit down on his fingers, panting through his nose and mewling as he sagged against the wall bonelessly. Numbly petting his lover's cat-like ear gratefully, he could only blink in a stupor when Senri lifted his head after carefully cleaning his flesh with that maddeningly rough-feeling tongue. While his boyfriend grinned at him downright smugly, he could only think that it didn't feel that rough when they kissed….
"Mmmm, as tasty as I remembered," his shameless beast purred, then lifted, claiming his mouth into a delicately heated kiss while at the same time smoothly fixing his clothes. And tasting a musky tang on his tongue, Raha whined softly, drowning both hands greedily in his ink-black hair. When he ran out of breath, Senri chuckled, pulling his head against his shoulder and petting his hair as he brushed a kiss next to his ear. "It's my pleasure and honor to care for your needs, my prince. For now, it has to be enough, but when you… spike again, don't hesitate to reach for me, hm?"
His senses still swimming in the blissed-out haze, he only sighed, rubbing his cheek against his lover's black shirt.
"O-okay…"
But if Senri was right… how, the fuck, were they supposed to survive this visit…? Oh, he was going to smack Damon so hard for this…!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk… I think that's quite enough, babe, let's cut it here and make it a three-parter?"
"If you want to, Sen… I'm tired, anyway. How did your trip go, by the way…?"
"…ah, uneventful. It was as easy as taking out trash, really, nothing to worry about."
"M'kay, love. Anything you want to add for this part before I post it…?"
"Not really. Let's keep the conclusion for the last part, okay…? Would make most sense, I think."
"It's your guide, Sen, so whatever you wish."
"Lovely. Now, I brought you something, babe."
"Oh…? Ah… no way…! Thanks!"
"Heh, and he darted off, so I guess, it's up to me to finish it up… If – perhaps – I'll leave you here a tiny advice: do remember to occasionally spoil your mate with their favorite snacks. I found, that similar as with kits, keeping your lover well fed and rested, goes a long way toward smoothing his or her temper…! (Especially when you have to do something you know they wouldn't be happy about). Now, until the next one and take good care of your mates, if you're lucky bastards like to me have them."
Part 3
Throughout his youth, Senri learned that playing... dumber and weaker than he was always worked to his advantage.
In the lair, the hierarchy he grew up to fit his comfort, so he used his games to help keep it intact. In his personal opinion, Ares was the perfect leader for their Clan, but having more than one... Alpha – as Damon called it – came with obvious risk: the example of their parents proven.
He, opposite to his uncle, absolutely didn't mind being a 'backup' and, to limits, enjoyed his brothers treating him as their 'baby brother.' And in case someone else of their clanmates got... ideas, his play worked wonders to make him seem 'unfit' to take over Ares's duties. And if it in any way affected his eldest brother's decision to, once they're ready, return to the lair with Damon in tow: he believed – even before knowing that that the human male wasn't exactly human – that his intelligence and skills at manipulating those around him were a perfect match for Ares's somewhat more naive attitude – and will work only to bring their Clan prosperity.
And before his priorities changed, that was always his highest drive: to keep his brothers safe and to make their Clan prosper: by any means necessary. He wasn't sure – or cared, to be frank – if it was his inborn drive or a personality quirk, but he was determined in his goals.
Hades, skilled as he was by himself, would never be accepted as the permanent leader of their Clan for obvious reasons, not to mention Senri was one of the very, very few aware that his brother's heart lay somewhere completely different: with Hythlodaeus, the Keeper from their mother's Clan. But considering the circumstances, the brothers elected to keep it a secret, especially while the tensions between the Seekers and Keepers still ran high after their parents' fate. Ares and Senri eagerly covered for their brother whenever he left to meet up with his lover, and slowly but surely, they worked toward smoothing things over so that one day their people on both sides wouldn't... freak out when Hades decided to announce his wish to mate with a Keeper.
Now, however, his priorities somewhat changed, and after discussion with his brothers and Damon behind Raha's back, they all agreed that if so happens that his mate does Shift – as there was no denying that his redhead changed faster than his twin – they'll be in charge of restoring the Allagan Clan in secret. He wanted to tell his lover about that plan, obviously and planned to do so eventually. Still, in their unanimous agreement, with everything already on his plate – and with the uncertainty if he does Shift in the first place – they decided that there was no need to cause Raha more stress than necessary for now.
Senri was already quite sure that his mate wasn't exactly aware of all the tiny changes that affected his body since the redhead Soul-Bonded him – and as much amusement as it caused his twin – Damon convinced Senri to keep quiet about those, stating that there was no need to spike his brother's hopes in case those were only superficial. They all knew that Raha worried that he would be disappointing them if he end up not Shifting, and Senri agreed with his twin that its just better to sit back and observe – letting his redhead discover those changes by himself.
Not that those were very obvious, though, other than his eyes and apparently – what he funnily enough appeared to either ignore or be in denial of – his steadily increasing sex drive. Senri laughed whenever his lover complained about turning 'nympho' near him, but Raha didn't seem to connect that to his bloodline. For him, the most obvious – and honestly maddening – shift was the way his mate's scent changed slowly over time. Already before they even met it was intoxicating for him: that spice-like scent reminiscent of lovely mix of cinnamon and almonds, but ever since they Bonded, it was growing increasingly... tasty.
Especially when his redhead's need for him spiked – making Senri nearly drugged on the painful need for him in turn. Discussing it with Damon – considering how knowledgeable his lover's twin was and, thankfully, far less bashful than Senri's silly mate – the man theoretized that it had to have to do with pheromones his brother had to unconsciously exhume during those spikes – and mated as they were, for him it was obvious that Senri would be the only one affected.
When Damon shared with them his theories about the true purpose of the Allag in their goddess's scheme, Senri found that he wasn't as appaled as perhaps someone else would be. Why should he...? He grew up to the strife that torn their people apart due to missing that most precious Clan and since finding Raha... Well, he would be hard-pressed to find fault with Bastet's stratedigy if Damon's guesses were right. And – privately – he still quite hoped that eventually their bloodline's appearance meant that the goddess would break her silence. He knew that Raha quite struggled with the notion of the gods and such, but he believed that their kind missed not only their softer-inclined kin, but their patron's favor and guidance, too.
Their Clans were quite lost without her, simple as that, in his opinion – fighting among each other while they should stand united under their goddess's loving care. As the humans' threat already proven once – not to mention his and his brothers existence and talents – their kind was at their strongest when united.
And if in Bastet's scheme his mate was meant to be the one to bring that unity about, Senri was more than determined to help amd keep him safe throughout that. Again: by any means necessary.
And a few were aware that Senri tended to be vicious whenever anything – or anyone – stood in the way of his goals.
His current one: take best possible care of his mate's needs and observe the tiny changes affecting his physiology.
But even he was more than inclined to admit that on the day they set off to his lover's parents' lair, he quite... fucked up. Night before, because of him, they ended up staying up late, watching one of his mate's favorite movies – as he hoped that it would help his lover relax when he seemed so incredibly nervous about that event. It seemed to work, as eventually Raha adorably drifted off to sleep curled into Senri's side, and after bringing him to their nest, the shapeshifter followed swiftly, grinning to his mate's very quiet purring. It was the newest development he found unbearably cute and relaxing... and perhaps it worked a tad too well to lull him to sleep, too: considering they ended up sleeping in for the set up hour when Damon and Ares were meant to pick them up.
To his defense: he simply forgot about the remark heard a long ago from Hades about the Allag's... tendencies. Not that he was in his right mind at the time either, so did took him a embarrassingly long moment to connect the impossibly arousing spike in his lover's scent with the heat.
Normally, their kind went through it once a year – which considering how unpleasant he found it before, Senri was quite thankful for. He heard something about the human females reproductive cycle being month-based and he couldn't imagine the terror if it was the same in their case!
Determined as he was not to... sleep around, as humans called it, outside of the proper mating, after he reached the sexual maturity of their kind, he promptly demanded of his brothers a promise that once he hits his first – and every following – heat, they'll make sure not to let him soil himself in the frenzy it brought about. And no matter how bad it got – while his brothers would contain him by force to his 'nook' in their lair – he was thankful for them keeping their word. They never missed a willing partners that would offer 'help,' and he had his share of offers, too, but opposite to his brothers before they met their respective lovers, he found the idea of waiting for his match far, far more interesting. It did earn him the reputation of being as cold as he was beautiful between their clanmates, but he honestly didn't give a flying fuck about that, and now felt more than rewarded for waiting with the perfection of his redheaded wonder.
And since they mated... well, enough said that Raha – that funnily enough seemed a tad... unaware of it – was more than a match for Senri's stamina! He didn't mind that his silly mate tended to call him insatiable beast, finding it somewhat hilarious with the way his needs were quite often spiked with the way his lover's scent turned into a sinful invitation to fuck.
Adorable as he found his lover's bashfullness about sex – if he did somewhat hoped that eventually he would get over his human-inclined shame it seemed to came from – he strived to meet his mate's increasing needs without pointing out the fact that they were growing, letting Raha hold on to his cute denial as long as he managed to. That by now pretty much every single day he woke up to his redhead's normally lovely scent thick with that distinctive, sweeter tang he learned to recognize as the spike of his need and the delicious invitation... well, he quite literally loved. Not to mention the way his mate would start the day especially relaxed and indulgent if properly sated!
Feisty as his redhead tended to get when irritated, Senri learned that being attentive to his needs went really long way to make their relationship just... perfect, and if he found it especially cute how in the moments just after sex his lover would readily indulge him and his need to take care and pamper him as his beauty deserved... well, was definitely a bonus!
All in all, Raha was perfect for him in every single aspect – and if it was by Bastet's design, Senri was very, very inclined to admit that at the chance of it alone, his faith and devotion toward their creator grew especially after being granted the wonder of his soulmate! And so long he could keep and provide for him, he didn't quite care what was the goal his lover's bloodline's reappearance was intended for. If he did hope that his brothers were right and it did mean that Bastet was perhaps ready to forgive their kind's transgressions if he and Ares prove worthy of her favor.
And in her name he sent thanks in thought when after... rejoining the conscious world and getting some seemingly very potent anti-allergen medication, his lover's mother seemed very... friendly, seating them all down by the apparently prepared for their visit table and with a slightly drunken but adorable grin got busy bustling between the kitchen and the living room, with eager help of her husband bringing a foray of deliciously looking dishes.
Thankfully seated next to his mate, and while keeping his hand in a secure grip under the surface of the table to – as Ares said – keep 'PDA' to minimum, he was able to easily observe the way his mate's scent steadily grew more and more pronounced, as he doubted that despite his earlier remark, his bashful Raha would comply and reach for him when necessary. Putting it off as work in progress – teaching his cute mate that there was absolutely nothing shameful about indulging his needs way before they would have a chance to grow painful – he entertained himself watching his lover's parents with life interest while waiting for the inevitable spike.
Going through it more times than he bothered to count, Senri knew how heat worked, and trying to be considerate of his mate's sensibilities and keep this meet-up as pleasant as possible, he was determined to see to his lover's needs as much as necessary to spare his Raha the worst: the frenzy it turned to if neglected. That part, he was too-painfully familiar with, and determined to keep his lovely redhead from experiencing it. The way it worked was very simple, spiking the need to mate and despite the unfavorable circumstances, he was quite happy he managed to connect the dots before his mate had the chance to slip into the fever of the heat too deeply. The sensitivity to scents was a first mark, obviously, and for him: the mounting aggression accompanied his mate's spikes.
In normal circumstances, in a lair, he would be freed of any and all responsibilities to contain his mate to their nest and properly tend to his needs, but, yeah: this situation was far from normal or favorable! But considering that it was his fault that his lover fell into heat in the first place – no matter how... hopeful that was for the idea that affecting him changes were taking speed – it was his responsibility to make the best of it, while spaeing his cute Raha any more embarrassment than absolutely necessary. And to that notion, Senri was extremely relieved for his brother's presance, as swiftly reconizing the situation, Ares with typical for him talent, set to ran damage control without the need to explain – turning his inborn charm up to eleven and keeping their hosts' attention focused on him and his mate. Damon, thankfully seemed as aware, and once their parents finally took their places at the opposite sides of the table, he easily engaged them in a conversation about what he was up to since his last visit in their lair. And only half-listening to his carefully neutral tone, Senri was free to focus on his mate's well-being, with his thumb rubbing a slow, soothing circles over his palm after setting their connected hands on top of his thigh under the surface of the table.
Still lovely flushed, Raha with a fork in his free hand poked at the contents of his plate, keeping his eyes lowered to the dish and apparently pretending to pay attention to his twin's words, if Senri could feel his fingers steadily tightening around his. Another thing that his 'babe' didn't seem aware of was the fact that he steadily grew stronger since they mated, if he was still far, far off from what Senri or any of his brothers were capable of. He suspected that with them being hybrids, and Raha's Clan famously being on the softer side... well, he doubted that his mate , even if he does Shift, would be able to match him strength-wise, but he was inclined to admit that he found all of thos tiny changes and quirks beyond fascinating.
In a way, it was like watching a myth come to life, so who could blame him...? And other than for humans when their kind emerged from shadows, for them this particular myth was a promise for a better future of thier kin: something that Senri couldn't help but hope for.
„I see... and what are you doing for the living, Senri?" he heard breaking from his distraction and his gaze shot up to his lover's father as an automatic, easy-going smile bloomed on his face. Not even a pretended one, as he was swiftly growing to quite like the male. Despite the distinctively different coloring, he could easily see the similarities in his features that his sons inherited, not to mention that both apparently got their height from him, too. And Sol did seem quite open and friendly, opposite to what Senri quite expected.
He was a tad amused that his lover seemed to believe that he wasn't very aware of their mother's misgivings about his and Ares nature. He wondered involuntarily if perhaps Raha didn't remember that he was there – in cat's form, yes, but still – for the marjority of his mom's calls. And his hearing was excepional even among his brothers – as most of his senses. If he was inclined to admit that, at some level he did blame those calls for the way his mate initially refused to give him a chance, but considering that it worked out in the end in his favor – he wasn't about to make a mess of his mating by being resentful for that.
In a way, he even appreciated it, too.
One of the many things their Eldest taught them about humans, was their ridiculous notion about the silly creatures taking them for some sort of a sign that the world was about to end. He did find it hilarious, taking under the consideration the fact that they only stepped in when it was humans that seemed determined to wipe themselves out of existence with their nuclear weapons. What the seemed unaware of – and he thought none of them was inclined to point out – like many other creatures that kept well away from their volatile neighbors, Miqo'te didn't had to do shit, but wait for the inevitable fallout and use their magic to restore their planet free of the plague of humanity.
It was Ares – fed by their parents wish for coexistence – that convinced the Clans that their goddess obviously wished for them to eventually integrate with the Tail-less, and to let them perish, they risked offending Bastet even more than their kind already did. Thatthey were literally created to protect – and perhaps that development was the test by Her design to see if they were ready to serve their nature as intended.
And the reward he found among them, did seem to indicate that his brother was quite correct in his assumptions.
And in his eyes, the way his mate's mother reacted to her son being claimed by his eldest brother was more than expected by a 'proper' female. Taking upon himself the task of tending to young in their lair, Senri had more than enough occasions to experience the way mothers were whenever their kit was threatened, and he could easily imagine that raised to believe the worst about their kind, her very obvious fear for her kits well-being was something that was more than he expected. And he could only hope that that experience – and apparently a healthy doze of sedative – would help him reassure both of them that he had the best intention of being a proper mate for their son.
„Currently, I strive to keep my mate well taken care off," he said easily, tightening his fingers around his lover's without taking his eyes off the male. „But previously, I spent my days tending to young in our lair."
„E-excuse me...?" the blonde looked at him like he grew another head and Senri frowned, sending a confused look toward his brother.
„They don't have a need for money, dad," Damon said calmly, smiling toward his father when the man turned his eyes to him with a surprised expression. „The Seekers in particular are able to create anything they might need, so their lives pretty much turn about fulfilling a chosen roles among their Clan and their lair... their home. Senri, being Ares's brother and succesor in case anything befallen him, could do nothing... but he does, I believe, like to tend to their children. And, Sen, my dad meant as in: how are you going to provide materially for Raha," he added toward him with a pleasant smile and Senri gasped, turning his eyes toward their father with an apologetic expression and lowering his ears against his head.
„I don't need to be... provided for," his mate hissed, and he tightened his fingers around his hand in a warning. This part he understood, and it was a veey important point in courting, too!
He smiled sheepishly and reached out his hand palm up over the table, focused briefly and created a small pile of shiny diamonds on top of his hand, then easily offered then clearly astunded male for an inspection.
„As a gift, please, accept those as my apologies for not doing this... in a correct order," he said with a subdued tone. „The male that tends to the building our lair is in agreed that for one of those each month he's willing to overlook their 'no pet,' policy when I got Raha Ink the Second, so I believe those are considered valuable, yes...?"
„Huh...?" staring quite numbly at the pile of shiny stones in his palms, the male turned his shocked gaze toward his older son. „Those... are real?"
„Very much so," Damon snickered, then sent Senri a pleased look. „And for your information, Sen, that landlord is robbing you blind in that case."
„Matters not," he shrugged carelessly. „So long Raha wishes to stay there, it is my pleasure to care for whatever he might require. He likes Ink and his apartment, so I'm just glad we came to an agreement. Once Raha's ready to move out..."
„...the what?" his lover tugged on his hand, and Senri looked at him with surprise. „Why the fuck would we move out?"
„I mean: once you're ready to have kits, that's all," he replied with confusion at his tone. „Can't raise our young among humans, babe. Believe me, one kit is a handful! And a single birth is a rare thing."
„What in the... God's name is he talking about...?" their mother gasped and blinked, leaning back in her seat and grabbing at her necklace when he looked toward her with a smile.
„Ah, sorry... I keep forgetting about your... misconceptions about our people," he chuckled sheepishly and, without a thought, Shifted to his female form, grinning brightly. „I meant that when Raha wants to have kits... kids, we'll have to look for a proper lair, that's all."
The woman stared at him with open mouth and wide, glassy eyes while his brother burst into booming laughter alongside snickering Damon. Raha groaned and slapped his free hand over his eyes, incredibly red-faced under it, while his father chuckled funnily, and when Senri looked toward him, the male looked his form over with quite an appreciation before turning his amused, cyan eyes toward his mate.
„See... and here you were worrying for nothing, apparently, about our sons' choices meaning that you wouldn't get to coddle your grandchildren," he chuckled again, then sighed. „I think she's in shock, boys, so perhaps I'll get her upstairs and lay down while you enjoy the dinner, hm?" he stood up and walked around the table, soon helping his female up to her feet and leading her out of the room.
„A way to make an impression, baby brother," Ares snickered, wiping his eyes.
„Did I do something wrong...?" he blinked, looking between them with a carefully innocent expression.
„No..." his lover sighed with resignation. „You're just... being a silly cat like always."
„Credit where it's due... well played," Damon chuckled, raising his glass toward him with a smile and a glint in his eyes that let Senri know that the older twin wasn't fooled in the slightest by his game.
Not that it surprised him, though.
Still quite internally fuming when he led Senri up the stairs and toward the bedroom he and Damon used to share, Raha - if he was being inclined to think rationally under the circumstances - would admit that the fury bubbling under his skin was downright irrational. And most likely: an effect of his half-conscious need to cover his embarrassment about the whole... situation.
It was easier to be angry than to admit that he was simply... so horny he couldn't think straight! If his play was quite literally useless, because as soon as the door of the room closed behind them, he pretty much melted instantly when Senri unceremoniously shoved him face first against the nearest wall and pinned him against it with his bigger frame, covering his mouth with his big, hot hand as he tugged his pants off his hips.
And even the embarrassing thought that his twin and his lover - that elected to instead move to the garden with their father after dinner - had to be aware... did nothing to stop the utterly too shameful moan tearing from his throat as instead of protesting (as he should!) he fisted his hands on the wall and couldn't stop his neck from tilting in a far too-obvious invitation as his insides clenched with need painfully. Every inch of his skin felt insanely hot and tight, and when his lover growled softly and bit him, while setting to skillfully prepare his body for his claim... he whimpered needily, far too lost in the painful arousal to even care that his mother was 'resting' in the room across the one one they were in.
And as the pressure grew painful, he couldn't help but curl one hand in the hair at the back of his lover's head, keeping him in his bite, when his other hand shakily wrapped around his cock... and he came with a barely a stroke, whining under his mate's palm when his arousal barely lessened any. Growling into his skin aggressively as his fingers pumped into him in increasingly brutal manner, Senri's body seemed to exhume almost a scalding heat against his back and his scent... was nearly choking him, if he couldn't help but drink in it greedily with every desperate breath. His lover's long tail a tight leash wrapped around his abdomen felt like fiery, silky brand, and only flexed when his lover shifted slightly behind him and his hand stifled Raha's shout when Senri's dick sank inside him up to the hilt in one, hard stroke.
Keeping his freed hand wrapped around the redhead's hip to hold him still, Senri purred into his skin insistently and he downright shook, whimpering breathlessly under his hand as his body adjusted to the scalding heat of his flesh. The sheer mind-numbing relief of the intrusion was hard to miss, of very swiftly it stopped to be enough and he started to squirm in his mate's grip, delicately but insistently rocking back and forth to let him know what he needed. Tightening his grip both in Senri's hair and around his own flesh, he mewled incoherently when his lover didn't disappoint, matching and increasing the rhythm of his movements. Soon fucking him in a deep, hard thrusts he embarrassingly eagerly pushed against, he came twice before he even started to feel an actual relief, losing himself in the push and pull of their bodies. Nearly numb from heat and mindlessly whining his lover's name, his only warning was Senri's hand tightening over his mouth and his fangs digging deeper into his shoulder before his mate snapped his hips into him, his tail pulled tighter around him and he froze with a choked groan... Raha lost it instantly feeling his dick knot inside him, consciously glad for his lover's vice-like grip around him as his body trashed in a downright violent shudders as he came time after time, then sagged uselessly in his lover's embrace, too fucking blissed-out to do anything but... purr, apparently, as his throat vibrated with the sound outside of his will.
It wasn't... unpleasant, either and when Senri pulled back from his bite, tilted his head and claimed his mouth into a deep, delicious kiss and the sensation of their nearly identical sounds vibrated on his tongue and filled his mouth, Raha found it felt... impossibly soothing, letting his heartbeat finally find a correct rhythm in that of his mate's. Rubbing his thumb over his cheek in a delicate caress, Senri let him find himself in the heat of his taste, and soon he was able to think straight again, if it took him a longer moment to force himself to pull back from his delicious kiss.
"...how long?" he rasped in a hoarse whisper, almost involuntarily petting his lover's ear while still purring in a deep, soothing sound, Senri rubbed his cheek against his, clearly enjoying himself.
"Not sure for you, babe," his mate replied smoothly, coiling his muscular arms around him securely. "For us it's usually a week, but only once a year."
A week... of this? Oh, my God...
Raha groaned weakly, falling quite limp in his lover's arms, grumbling incoherent complaints that only worked to make his lover chuckle.
"Don't worry, babe," he said, setting a kiss on his cheek. "I'm more than happy to take care of you... as much as you'll need."
"Of course... you're an insatiable beast, after all," he sighed with resignation but gratefully petted his mate's arm. "And... it looks like I can purr now, too."
"Mhmm, noticed," Senri purred himself, and he smiled involuntarily, leaning the back of his head against his chest, closing his eyes and for a moment letting himself just enjoy the heat of his embrace. "Love you, babe."
"Love you, too, Sen," he sighed softly, then turned his head and peered through his lashes at his lover's beautiful profile. "But, you know, that I'm not saying anything about your... games, doesn't mean that I'm unaware of them, love."
"Of course," Senri chuckled, pressing another tender kiss on his cheek. "How can anyone ever believed that you're less intelligent than your brother is truly beyond me, babe." He felt his face heat up at the statement, only staring while Senri flashed his impossibly adorable grin, nearly blinding him - even as his pale eyes cooled down to the sharp, merciless ice. "Just... in a different way, than your calculating twin, that's all."
"If you say so..." he breathed, caught in the snare of the true predator hiding behind his lover's usually cheery attitude.
"I know it, babe," his lover purred, then took his breath away with another deliciously hungry kiss.
"Pay up," his lover chortled quietly and perhaps someone else would find the sound unnerving while coming from overly too-fanged, feline muzzle, but Damon only grinned, leaning against his mate's side and gladly running his fingers through Ares's thick coat of ink-black fur. His eyes focued on the backdoor of their home - where his father disappeared but a moment ago - the redhead pouted for his lover's pleasure as he turned his gaze back to his shapeshifter's true form, sprawled lazily on the thicker patch of grass.
"Whatever do you mean, love?" He asked innocently, flicking his triangular ear playfully.
"Our bet, Damon... you lost," Ares growled softly, and he involuntarily shivered at the sound. He wasn't exactly sure about that, but considering the development, he was ready to guess that Miqo'te in their true form exhumed their pheromones especially... in a potent way, and though opposite to his silly brother he had a good sense to get throughfully sated by his lover before they left, he couldn't deny that the effect was intriguing. And well explained Ares statement, since once due to his father's curious question about it, his lover Shifted, there was no missing his instant reaction. For Damon, anyway, since he was busy looking for it in the first place.
Though their father did tent to be polite and quite easy-going in normal circumstances, he couldn't help but notice that since faced with the shapeshifters, his... friendliness was a tad off the charts. He could bet that he wasn't aware what was causing it, but Damon wouldn't be surprised to learn that faced with Miqo'te, there was something to his obvious - perhaps instinctive - interest in them.
"Maybe he's just feeling especially..." he started and trailed off to a hum spotting a quite unusual sight.
"Don't make excuses, babe, you know you..." Ares cut off after turning his triangular head and seeing the same he did: a gorgeous, winged cat perched atop of the high fence surrounding the garden. It was completely, pure white but for a thick, black lines surrounding its teal, slitted eyes, and apparently seeing it was spotted - and perhaps understanding their baffled expressions, as especially Ares had to look quite hilarious with his maw wide open, it meowed and flew down to the patch of grass near Damon's feet.
The... cat? sphinx?... perched gracefully on its hinter legs, folding its white, nearly angelic wings and tilted its head in offering, but it took the redhead a moment to realize it had a piece of paper attached to a beautifully carved, golden collar. Waiting patiently, the creature swiveled its long tail until he cleared his throat and gingerly reached for the paper.
"Aren't you just... gorgeous," he cooed at the animal shamelessly, while freeing the apparent message and chuckled involuntarily when it meowed, shook its wings and darted up in the air, swiftly dissapearing from sight. "Well..." he sighed, staring after it, while numbly unfolding the paper. "...don't really have to wonder who sent it, right...?" He turned his eyes toward his lover and snickered, seeing Ares was still staring in the direction the creature dissapeard into.
Deciding to give him a moment to gather his bearings, he looked at the message and frowned, seeing that - unsurprisingly - it was written in hieroglyps. It took him a good moment to deciper them, starting a bit when Ares Shifted, and sat down behind him, wrapping his arms along his shoulders and resting his chin on one, read alongside him.
"Invitation...?" He finally breathed with audible awe.
"Mhmm," he replied, still feeling a tad numb inside. "For me and Raha... Alone and in a year."
"In a year...?" His lover repeated.
"Perhaps... That's how long is going for us to Shift," he said with a sigh, almost revelently folding the piece of paper and shoving it inside the pocket of his pants before turning sideways in his mate's embrace and setting his hand against Ares's cheek. "Don't tell about it my brother, okay? Or yours, either."
"Because whatever Senri knows, Raha would too, eventually...?" Ares grimaced and inclined his head until his forehead rested against Damon's. "You can't protect him from this, love."
"I know... But let's just give them a tad more time to adjust, hm? To the situation... and each other," he whispered, closing his eyes.
"As you wish, love," his mate replied, as always.
"I still can't believe they kept it from us this long, though. Maybe he did make it up to screw with us... or something."
"You saw the message, babe... Unless you think your brother would go as far as to make it?"
"Nah... but still, I just... Why does he think he needs to protect me...? Do I seem so weak to you all?"
"Nothing further from the truth, Raha, but you do tend to worry... a lot. And I think Damon can't help but want to make up for something that wasn't really his fault to begin with. He loves you, babe, simple as that."
"Eh... some days it feels like I have a crowd of people determined to protect me... even from myself and them."
"That's what you get with being so precious, love. You're quite literally our hope. And we still have time before the doomsday, hm?"
"Don't even call it that... I'm already freaked out enough as it is. What if...?"
"See... you worry already."
"..."
"As for conclusion for this story, guys: I don't know if it was accidental or by design, but sure builds up my faith in our goddess. And despite the one tiny... slip, let's say, I think I'm on a good way to have a good relationship with my mate's parents... Eventually."
"...slip? My mom sprayed you with holy water, Sen."
"Well... Every relationship needs work, yes?"
"...if that's how you call pretending to melt, silly cat."
"Okay... It was just too good to pass on, alright? We had a good laugh about it afterwards with Ares."
"...you are both evil."
"Sometimes."